NSWTrainLink New intercity train project

In May 2014, the Government of New South Wales announced its intention to purchase new carriages for the NSW TrainLink intercity network. The new trains will replace the V sets and allow at least some H sets to be transferred from Intercity to Sydney Trains services.[2][3]

In August 2014, expressions of interest from manufacturers were called for.[4][5]The following parties responded:[6][7] In July 2015, the government announced that Alstom, Downer/Changchun, Stadler, and UGL/Mitsubishi Electric/CSR had been shortlisted to tender.[8]Following the merger of CSR and the parent company of Changchun Railway Vehicles, Hyundai Rotem replaced CSR as a partner in the UGL/Mitsubishi Electric consortium.[9] The consortia provided two variants of their designs - a longer train and shorter train.[9] The Hyundai Rotem/UGL/Mitsubishi Electric consortium was announced as the successful bidder in August 2016. The companies formed a joint venture called RailConnect to manage the project.[10]The trains will be built by Hyundai Rotem in South Korea.[1]
 * Alstom
 * Bombardier Transportation
 * Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles
 * Downer Rail / Changchun Railway Vehicles
 * Hyundai Rotem
 * Stadler Rail
 * UGL Rail / Mitsubishi Electric / CSR Corporation

The contract covers the supply and maintenance of the 512 carriages and the fit out and operation of a maintenance facility at Kangy Angy.[8][11][12] The maintenance contract runs for fifteen years from the delivery of the first train with an option for a five-year extension.[1]

Design
The trains are double deck electric multiple units measuring 163m for an 8-car set or 204m for a 10 car-set[13]. They will include accessible toilets and dedicated space for luggage, prams, bicycles and wheelchairs. Fixed seats on the upper and lower decks will be in a two by two arrangement. The seating will include cup holders, tray tables and arm rests. Each seat will feature a charging station for mobile devices.[10] The trains are being designed to be operated with or without guards, with tender documents stating the trains must support one-man operation.[14]

The new trains are wider than the V sets they replace and require modifications to be made to parts of the Blue Mountains Line route to create sufficient clearance from adjacent structures.[12] Transport officials also want to relax safety standards for the minimum distance allowed between trains and tunnel walls, which is currently set at 200 millimetres.[15] H sets are not permitted to operate beyond Springwood due to the same issue.